I buy up zucchini whenever I can get my hands on it in the summer, and one of my favorite things to do with it is fold it right into chicken patties. The zucchini keeps everything so juicy and tender that you’d never guess how few ingredients are involved. This has been on permanent rotation at our dinner table for years now, and nobody ever gets tired of it.
There’s one little trick I do that makes these extra special: I separate an egg and put just the yolk into the meat mixture, then use the white to coat the patties before frying. The white forms this lovely golden seal on the outside that locks all the juices in. It sounds fussy but it takes about ten seconds and the difference is real.
- 1.5 lbs ground chicken
- 2 onions, sauteed until golden
- 1 onion, raw
- 4 slices of bread
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 small zucchini, about 7 oz
- 1 egg
- salt
- black pepper
Start by mixing the ground chicken with the sauteed onions. Take the raw onion, cut it into small pieces, and blend it into a smooth puree with an immersion blender, then add it to the meat. Press the garlic cloves through a garlic press and stir those in too.
Grate the zucchini on the large holes of a box grater and add it to the bowl. Soak the bread slices in a little water, squeeze them out well, and mix them in. Season everything with salt and black pepper, then mix really thoroughly with your hands until it all comes together.
Now separate the egg. Drop the yolk into the meat mixture and mix it in. Put the white in a small bowl and stir in a pinch of salt.
Shape the mixture into small patties, roll each one in the egg white, and set them straight into a skillet with a little hot oil. Fry over medium heat until golden brown on both sides.
Transfer the patties to a pot, pour in about 3 tablespoons of water, cover with a lid, and let them steam over medium-low heat for 15 minutes. That last little braise is what makes them so incredibly soft and juicy all the way through.
They come out tender, savory, and full of flavor, and they go with absolutely any side you like, from mashed potatoes to pasta to a simple green salad. These never last long in my house.